Eria Elliot made his long over-due appearance in court for a bail hearing before Associate Judge Perry B. Inos yesterday.
He was represented by Assistant Public Defender Douglas Hartig. Chief prosecutor Kevin Lynch appeared on behalf of the government.
Inos imposed a $1,000 bail on Elliot, 10 percent of which will be cash and the remaining $900 in unsecured bond.
If he posts bail, Elliot must return to court whenever required to do so, obey all commonwealth laws and not leave Saipan without permission from the court.
He must not consume any alcoholic beverages in public places and keep appointments with his lawyer.
The court granted the government’s motion to extend the probation for three months.
Elliot must report to the court for status conference on April 8 at 9 a.m. and at 1:30 p.m. on the same day for a review hearing.
Elliot did not show up for his arraignment on Feb. 10, 2009.
Associate David A. Wiseman issued a bench warrant and recommended a $1,000 bail against him.
Elliot, who is frequently seen on the streets begging for food and money from passersby, had been in and out of jail for various criminal charges.
He ignored the numerous bench warrants issued against him and never showed up for court hearings.
Elliot was arrested in July 2007 following the issuance of a bench warrant by Associate Judge Ramona V. Manglona for his failure to show up for a hearing regarding his four criminal cases.
In January this year, Manglona issued another bench warrant against Elliot for not showing up.
Wiseman issued another bench warrant on Feb. 5, 2009 for failing to show up in court.
Elliot was arrested the following day and was brought to Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo’s courtroom.
Govendo released Elliot after ordering him to come back for his arraignment on Feb. 10, but again he did not show up.
On June 23, 2006, Govendo suspended all proceedings of Elliot’s cases and directed psychiatrist Willie Gutowski of the Commonwealth Health Center to examine Elliot.
The medical report from Gutowshi disclosed that Elliot was a regular patient at CHC and is suffering from schizophrenia and auditory hallucinations.
It was also learned that he has been repeatedly admitted to CHC for acute psychosis related to alcohol and marijuana abuse.
But the psychiatrist said Elliot was “competent to stand trial.”
Elliot used to be a “smart” student of William S. Reyes Elementary School in the early 1990s and also one of the school’s top players in table tennis competitions.
His cases involved assault and battery, shattering the window of a car, harassing customers at the Garapan Market while intoxicated, and hitting a woman with a serving tray.
